In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”

Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. For the word of God will never fail.” Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.

Luke 1:26-38

In a moment, Mary found herself in a season of preparation. A baby on the way even though she had never known a man? How could this be? In that moment, Mary made the choice to partner with the plan of God for her life, to prepare for what likely seemed impossible. She had but months to make room for this new baby. Imagine the thoughts that must have run through her mind as her belly grew and she was left explaining the impossible. But as she chose to submit to God’s plan, she found herself in a position of great honor, mothering God in the flesh, with a front-row seat to the miracles of God. We now have the choice to submit to this season of preparation. What is this season God has you in? Have you submitted yourself to it? Let every heart prepare Him room.

Prayer:

Jesus, I don’t want to miss one single good thing that you have in store for me. Help me choose to submit to you just like Mary did. Even when things don’t seem to make sense in the natural, I know that you always have a plan. Open my eyes to your plan for me today. Amen.